New Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has assured fellow citizens that the Indian Army will always be fully prepared to protect the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.

General Seth, after reviewing the Guard of Honor here on Wednesday, told the media that assuming the responsibility of the 31st Army Chief is a moment of immense pride and humility for him. He said, "I accept this responsibility with an unwavering commitment to duty, respect, and the principle of 'nation first'." Assuring fellow citizens, he said, "I assure every citizen of the country that the Indian Army has always been and will remain fully prepared to protect the nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests."

The Army Chief said that the Indian Army is a battle-prepared and battle-hardened force, fully capable of meeting every operational challenge. To ensure an effective response in accordance with the constantly changing security environment, we will have to take the modernization of the army forward with new energy and firm determination. Our goal is to build a technology-enabled, future-ready army that is fully empowered and capable of operating effectively in multi-domain operational environments.

He said that with these objectives in mind and guided by the government's vision for the decade of change, he has set his key priorities. He said, "I have incorporated them into the acronym 'Vijay'. Every letter of 'Vijay' represents my priorities. 'V' stands for vigilance - we will remain constantly vigilant towards our borders and emerging threats. At the same time, we will maintain high-level operational preparedness to effectively meet any challenge to national security."

'J' stands for innovation and change. My special focus will be on innovation in military doctrines and technology-based solutions. Innovation will be an integral part of our thought process, systems, and capability development. At the same time, necessary changes will be made according to the changing nature of warfare. He said that in 'Vijay', the next 'J' stands for jointness and integration. To make the Indian Army's operational capability more effective, we will maintain complete synergy and coordination with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

I fully understand that national security is not limited to just military power; it requires military-civil synergy and a comprehensive national perspective. This integrated approach will be the foundation of our purposeful cooperation in nation-building and achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047.

He said that in this, 'A' stands for self-reliance - we have to build a self-sufficient army based on indigenous capabilities and technologies developed in the country. Our overall goal will be - "to win our wars through indigenous solutions." The Army Chief said that in 'Vijay', 'Y' stands for 'soldier first'. In my view, every person from the Agniveer to the senior-most veteran is a soldier. These soldiers are the greatest strength of our army.

Strengthening the technological prowess and training standards of our soldiers will be my top priority. Our veterans and brave women are an integral part of the army family, and their welfare, empowerment, and professional development will always be of utmost importance to me.

General Seth said, "He firmly believes that the 'Jai' mantra given by the Prime Minister to the armed forces is the basis of his 'Vijay' priorities and will guide us towards success. Therefore, my guiding slogan will be - 'Jai to Vijay'." The Army Chief also paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the country. He said that the bravery, sense of duty, and selfless dedication of these soldiers will continue to inspire future generations.